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Technology usually has an expiry date, but these retro gadgets have made unlikely comebacks

Vinyls & turntables

Considered to be as good as dead in the 80s, these collectors’ items will soon be mass marketed again as Sony gets set to start manufacturing vinyl records; meanwhile, Panasonic has resurrected its flagship Technics SL-1200 record player to cope with the demand for players

Polaroid cameras

The relaunched $80 point & shoot Polaroid camera (& film, priced at $10 for 10 shots) has encouraged more people to start experimenting with retro-style photography; Fujifilm launched its own version, known as the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic

Jukeboxes

Even before vinyl records was the Wurlitzer, the coin-operated jukebox of the roaring 40s; these nostalgia pieces can be experienced today in some American restaurant chains; meanwhile new-age jukebox “crowdDJ” is set to be launched as a free app for smartphones

Audio cassettes

The era of “mixtapes” may be long gone, but some nostalgic enthusiasts are trying to bring tapes back; relatively inexpensive, the trend is also fuelling a comeback for the 90s style Walkman

Fax machines

Certain firms are resorting to the once essential office gadget, the fax machine, as a faxed signature is still considered more reliable than a digital one; the machines are also relatively difficult to hack into & thereby safer

Source: Wsj.com, Cnbc.com, Forbes.com

Manvi Gautam

Technology usually has an expiry date, but these retro gadgets have made unlikely comebacks

Vinyls & turntables

Considered to be as good as dead in the 80s, these collectors’ items will soon be mass marketed again as Sony gets set to start manufacturing vinyl records; meanwhile, Panasonic has resurrected its flagship Technics SL-1200 record player to cope with the demand for players

Polaroid cameras

The relaunched $80 point & shoot Polaroid camera (& film, priced at $10 for 10 shots) has encouraged more people to start experimenting with retro-style photography; Fujifilm launched its own version, known as the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic

Jukeboxes

Even before vinyl records was the Wurlitzer, the coin-operated jukebox of the roaring 40s; these nostalgia pieces can be experienced today in some American restaurant chains; meanwhile new-age jukebox “crowdDJ” is set to be launched as a free app for smartphones

Audio cassettes

The era of “mixtapes” may be long gone, but some nostalgic enthusiasts are trying to bring tapes back; relatively inexpensive, the trend is also fuelling a comeback for the 90s style Walkman

Fax machines

Certain firms are resorting to the once essential office gadget, the fax machine, as a faxed signature is still considered more reliable than a digital one; the machines are also relatively difficult to hack into & thereby safer